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Jewelry Crafter

A jewelry crafter is a person that makes custom jewelry for private individuals, props for movies, or even for advertising campaigns or other customers. Generally a jewelry crafter has either formal training in metalsmithing, silversmithing or working with gold. Jewelry crafters may work with molds, with carving tools or even with torches or other specific equipment such as polishers, grinders and cutting tools.

Most jewelry crafters begin their careers working for already established jewelry crafters. This internship or apprenticeship allows the novice to gain practical experience under an already established professional. Since most of the training includes hands-on experience classes and coursework is also designed to be highly interactive, not like other courses where it is mostly lecture based.

For those jewelry crafters that want to work with precious gems or other, less common metals there are additional options for training including specialized schools or even working in another country to gain experience. Excellent communication and an ability to work with the customer to understand exactly what they want in their customized jewelry is very important. Most jewelry crafters will prepare sketches or computer models of the final project so an artistic ability or a familiarity with various software programs is an asset.

Common work activities include:

• Meeting with customers and clients to determine exactly what they want the final custom jewelry piece to look like.
• Working with various metals, gems and other materials to create just what the customer wants while staying within the budget or cost limit set by the customer.
• Sketching or producing molds or wax models of what the item will look like then making changes as required.
• Working for long hours on fine detail to enhance the appearance of the piece of custom jewelry.
• Advertising, marketing and managing the business if the jewelry crafter is self-employed.
• Billing, invoicing and keeping all financial records accurate and all bills and accounts receivable paid and in good standing.

Check out all of the online fashion design degrees offered by a variety of schools offering programs online in fashion design.

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